A Salt Lake Elementary School employee has been charged with sexual assault.
Greg Hirashiki, an educational assistant, was charged last week with three counts of third-degree sexual assault and released after posting $100,000 bail. He has a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Hirashiki fondled a boy under 14 on three occasions, in January and March, and on Sept. 13.
Donalyn Dela Cruz, Department of Education spokeswoman, said Hirashiki has been on leave since Sept. 19, pending investigation. She said the department had no further comment because there were ongoing school and police investigations.
The school will inform parents when information becomes available, she said.
Last month, Michael Wright, 33, a Jefferson Elementary School teacher, pleaded not guilty to five sexual assault charges involving a minor victim, including two first-degree sexual assaults.
The alleged crimes happened from July 2010 to July 2015. Wright was freed after posting $200,000 bail, and his trial was set for Nov. 21.
Teen in double suicide ID’d as Kapolei girl
A 17-year-old girl who died in a double suicide at Turtle Bay Resort last week was identified Monday by the Honolulu medical examiner’s office as Tiana Pascual Dias of Kapolei.
She died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was listed as a suicide, the office said.
A 44-year-old man who died in the same incident has not been identified, the medical examiner’s office said. His cause of death was also listed as injuries from a gunshot to the head and ruled a suicide.
Police said the man and girl were seen shooting themselves with a handgun at about 8:30 p.m. Friday at Turtle Bay Resort.
Paramedics arrived and found both on the ground in the parking lot, each with a gunshot wound to the head. The two victims were taken to Kahuku Hospital, where they died.
Police said the two were not related but knew each other and may have been in a relationship.
Driver dies after losing control in S. Kona
A man died after being thrown from his station wagon after it failed to make it around a turn in the road and hit a utility pole, police said.
The accident occurred at 2:36 a.m. Sunday just south of the 114-mile marker near Honalo when the driver of the 2013 Subaru station wagon failed to maneuver the vehicle around a turn on Mamalahoa Road in South Kona, which caused the vehicle to run off the mauka shoulder of the road and strike a utility pole. The driver was thrown from the vehicle and was taken in critical condition to Kona Community Hospital, where he died.
Hawaii island police say excessive speed, inattention and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine cause of death and identification.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and are asking for any crash witnesses to call officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229. Tipsters who prefer anonymity may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
This is the Big Island’s 22nd traffic fatality this year, compared with 15 at this time last year.
Man critical after Ala Moana beach rescue
A 22-year-old male visitor was in critical condition Monday after being found underwater off Ala Moana Beach Park.
Lifeguards and firefighters began searching the water at about 3:30 p.m. after the victim’s friend reported his friend missing, an Emergency Medical Service report said.
Lifeguards found the victim underwater about 60 to 80 feet from shore and paddled him back to the beach, where first responders performed CPR.
Paramedics took over treatment and took the man to a hospital.
